Advocacy Project: Letter to a Public Official

   December 6, 2009

   Congressman David Obey

   United States House

   2314 Rayburn Building

   Washington, DC 20515

Congressman David Obey,

     I am writing to you to vote yes to the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act 2005, Bill # H.R. 2030 .  This bill is seeking to provide 100,000,000 people with first time access to safe drinking water and sanitation on a sustainable basis by 2015 by improving the capacity of the United States Government to fully implement the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act 2005. These two issues alone can affect not only the health of individuals, but also the crops that they grow, and the environment around them. With forty percent of the world’s population lacking access to clean and safe drinking water one can see that this is a serious problem that needs to be addressed.

     I believe that something must be done to help out the millions of people in the world who are negatively affected by poor water quality and lack of sanitary resources.  According to the Environmental Health perspectives , people are becoming sick and even dying because of these two issues, which is not only affecting the individual, but his/her family and community as well.  The economy of the developing countries who have poor water quality and sanitary resources are also being affected.  Money is being spent on treating water related illnesses and diseases, and worker productivity is being lowered due to these illnesses.

     The main people who will greatly benefit if this bill is passed are the poor living in developing countries.  These are the people who are falling ill, these are the people who are dying, these are the people who are losing their crops and jobs because of these two issues.  By bringing clean water to these people and by giving them access to sanitary resources you will give these individuals a better chance at life. 

     From your biography I found that you have done work in the past to help out the environment.  I think it is wonderful that you have made such a commitment by being a powerful presence against anti-environmental riders, helping secure our air, water, and resources.  I can only hope that you will continue to help out by voting yes to bill # H.R. 2030.  By voting yes you will not only be helping out our environment you will be changing the quality of millions of people’s lives all over the world. 

Sincerely,

Hailey Giller

(Contact Information)